Research Group

Dr. Noushin Rajabalinia PDF (April 2023 - Current)

Copolymerization Chain Growth Kinetics of Sparingly Soluble Monomers in Aqueous Solution

Noushin Rajabalinia was born and grew up in Urmia, the capital of the west Azerbaijan province of Iran. She obtained her Bachelor of Science from the University of Tehran and Master of Science degree from Sahand University of Technology in Chemical Engineering. She joined POLYMAT in Spain as a PhD student to work in RECOBA, a large European project coordinated by BASF involving six companies and four universities with the aim of improving the performance of batch processes across different industrial sectors. Within this framework, her PhD research was to develop fundamental understanding on the evolution of particle morphology during emulsion polymerization to help overcome the associated challenges in on-line morphological control. The skills gained in the batch and semi-batch synthesis of latexes, polymer and process characterization, and the mathematical modeling of waterborne dispersions led to several high-impact publications, three as first author.

Noushin joined the Maric group at McGill University as a postdoctoral fellow in April 2021 where she was involved in three NSERC industrial projects: an NSERC Engage with GA International (Laval, QC) that resulted in a technical report describing failure analysis of commercial polymeric coating materials under harsh environments; an NSERC CRD with Safran (Kirkland QC) to complete the design of a water-based resin; and an NSERC CRD with ADFAST Corp. (St. Laurent, QC) for the development of water-dispersable bio-based non-isocyanate polyurethanes that was published in Reaction and Functional Polymers. Since April 2023, she has been working as a PDF in the Hutchinson group in collaborative research on the polymerization kinetics of sparingly soluble monomers in water with BASF.

Opeyemi Ajogbeje PhD (2020 - current)

Radical Polymerization Kinetics of Amino-functional Monomers

I attended University of Waterloo, where I obtained a BASc in Chemical Engineering in 2017. I earned an Energy and Environmental Systems and Processes Specialization as well as a Management Sciences Option. During the co-operative education program, I gained relevant work experience at Apotex Inc., Toronto Hydro, Regional Municipality of York and other reputable organizations. I worked as an undergraduate research assistant and investigated the colloidal stability of ethyl cellulose nanoparticles for Pickering emulsion formulation in the course of study at University of Waterloo.

On completion of the undergraduate degree, I worked briefly at the Sitel Group before proceeding to University of Toronto, where I graduated with a MASc in Chemical Engineering in 2020. As a graduate research assistant, I collaborated with an industrial partner (Syncrude Canada Limited), where I conducted research in the fields of colloids (microemulsions), interfacial phenomena and porous media to model a packed bed process equipment. A coalescer design methodology was successfully developed at the end of the program.

I am presently at Queen’s University pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering.  The combination of polymer science and reaction engineering principles lead to commercial-scale synthesis of polymers. Specifically, I study the free-radical polymerization of amino-functional monomers for coating and biomedical applications. The research explores dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate (DMAEMA) monomer for the development of novel polymers.

Conference Presentations

MACRO 2024 50th IUPAC World Polymer Congress (Warwick, UK, July 2024)
14th International Workshop on Polymer Reaction Engineering (Potsdam, Germany, Sep 2023)
39th Canadian High Polymer Forum (Gananoque ON, Aug 2022)
World Polymer Congress MACRO 2022 (Winnipeg MB, Jul 2022)

Papers

Ajogbeje, O. J., I. Lacík, R. A. Hutchinson, "Propagation Rate Coefficients of 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate Radical Polymerization in Bulk, Alcohols and Alcohol/Water Solutions Determined by PLP-SEC", Polym. Chem. 15, 2094-2103, 2024 [More Information]

Ajogbeje, O. J., I. Lacík, R. A. Hutchinson, “The Influence of Monomer Ionization and Hydrolysis on the Radical Polymerization Kinetics of 2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl Methacrylate in Aqueous Solution”, Polym. Chem. 14, 2624-2639, 2023 [More Information]

O. J. Ajogbeje, A. Stammitti-Scarpone, S. Cao, T. Akanni, S. Ng, E. J. Acosta, "Separation of Emulsions with Fibrous Filter-Coalescers", Langmuir 37, 7630-7642, 2021 [more information].

Elizabeth Bygott PhD (2020 - current, promoted from MASc program in 2021)

Synthesis and Utilization of Acrylic Macromonomers

Graduating from Queen’s University with a BASc in Chemical Engineering in the spring of 2020, Elizabeth plans to continue to build off of her undergrade thesis work exploring the use of poly(isobornyl acrylate) and various acrylate copolymers for use in the coatings and adhesives industry. Due to a keen interest in the field of polymer reaction engineering and having already worked under the supervision of Dr. Robin Hutchinson and Dr. Nina Heidarzadeh, Elizabeth found this lab to be the perfect fit for her.

Elizabeth is investigating the high-temperature semi-batch radical polymerization of poly(isobornyl acrylate) and blocky acrylate copolymers for use of the acrylic macromonomers in the automotive coatings industry. Size exclusion chromatography, light-scattering, gas chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and differential scanning calorimetry will be used to investigate the properties of the polymeric materials.

Conference Presentations

MACRO 2024 50th IUPAC World Polymer Congress (Warwick, UK, July 2024)
Polymer Reaction Engineering XI (Scottsdale AZ, USA, December 2022)
39th Canadian High Polymer Forum (Gananoque ON, August 2022)
Clarkson Materials Chemistry Symposium (Potsdam NY, USA, October 2022)
World Polymer Congress MACRO 2022 (Winnipeg MB, July 2022)
71st Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (virtual, October 2021)
70th Canadian Chemical Engineering Conference (virtual, October 2020)

Papers

Bygott, E. G., R. A. Hutchinson, "The Use of High-Temperature Semi-Batch Radical Polymerization to Synthesize Acrylate Based Macromonomers and Structured Copolymers", Macromol. Chem. Phys. 225, 202300321, 2024 [More information]

Nasresfahani, A., N. Heidarzadeh, E. G. Bygott, R. A. Hutchinson, "Stochastic Modeling of Poly(acrylate) Distributions Obtained by Radical Polymerization under High‐Temperature Semi‐Batch Starved‐Feed Conditions: Investigation of Model Predictions versus Experimental Data", Macromol. Theory Simul. 30, 2000093, 2021 [More Information]. Invited contribution

Heidarzadeh, N., E. G. Bygott, R. A. Hutchinson, "Exploiting Addition–Fragmentation Reactions to Produce Low Dispersity Poly(isobornyl acrylate) and Blocky Copolymers by Semibatch Radical Polymerization", Macromol. Rapid Commun. 41, 2000288, 2020 [More information]

Fatemeh Salarhosseini PhD (Jan 2022 - Current)

The Influence of Solvent on Radical Propagation Kinetics

Completing her undergraduate studies in Pure Chemistry in the spring of 2016 at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, ranked as the 3rd best university in Iran, Fatemeh demonstrated her academic prowess by participating in the Iranian National Chemistry Olympiad, achieving the notable rank of 16th in the 2016 competition. She then earned her Master of Applied Science (MASc) in Polymer Chemistry in the winter of 2019. During her MASc studies, she underwent training in the Conservation and Management of Laboratory and obtained certification in Health, Safety, and Environment workshops. Her research focused on preparation, characterization and antibacterial activity of chitosan-based composites containing bentonite and zeolite supported silver(Ι) oxide against Streptococcus iniae bacteria for aquaculture applications, under supervision of Dr. Navid Ramezanian (graduated from Bielefeld University of Germany). To further her expertise in microbiological testing and techniques, she completed a one-month internship in the Food Quality and Safety Research Department at Ferdowsi University of Mashhad. This period allowed her to master essential research techniques, including synthesis composites and microbial tests such as disc diffusion test and microdilution techniques.

Her outstanding academic achievements and her profound interest in polymer reactions and synthesis, coupled with and her collaboration with Dr. Gholamhossein Zohouri (graduated from University of Manchester and prominent expert in the synthesis and characterization of polymers), provided Fatemeh with an opportunity to join the Hutchinson lab, aligning perfectly with her research aspirations and capabilities. There she is investigating radical homopolymerization of methacrylates to obtain a better understanding of the systematic changes in radical propagation kinetics with monomer structure. She is also studying the effects of water and ethanol/water solvent mixtures on the homo- and co- polymerization kinetics of hydrophobic monomers (e.g., butyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate) with carboxylic-acid monomers (e.g., acrylic acid, methacrylic acid). She uses both Pulsed laser polymerization coupled with Size exclusion chromatography (with light-scattering detection), and in-situ NMR techniques in her studies.

Sara Mohebbi PhD (Sept 2023 - Current)

Copolymerization of Biorenewable Itaconate Monomers

Sara received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from the Department of Polymer Engineering at Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran, Iran). For her bachelor’s project, she studied the relationship between the microstructure of polymer nanocomposites and their rheological, mechanical, and electrical properties. Following graduation in 2018, she embarked on a collaborative project, gaining hands-on experience in in-situ polymerization of polyurethane with Halloysite nanotubes, and investigating the microstructure-property relationships within the resulting nanocomposite. For her master's degree, Sara designed an engineered biopolymer for biomedical applications through physical and chemical surface modification of polydimethylsiloxane. After graduating in 2022, she served as a research assistant at the Pasteur Institute of Iran, honing her skills in project management and various characterization techniques.

Sara’s experiences coupled with a keen interest in polymer reaction engineering, led to her decision to pursue further studies in this area. Thus, she joined the Hutchinson group in September 2023 for her PhD. Her research focuses on the copolymerization of bio-renewable monomers based on itaconic acid with acrylic monomers. This project aims to synthesize sustainable polymer materials suitable for coating industries, offering both industrial benefits and significant environmental advantages.

Mahsa Esmaeilzadeh MASc (Jan 2022 - May 2024)

Modeling and Parameter Estimation of High Temperature Solution Radical Copolymerization

Beginning her academic journey with an unexpected participation in the Iranian National Chemistry Olympiad, Mahsa 's fascination with chemistry was ignited early on. Her prowess in mathematics and physics during her high school years naturally steered her towards a career in chemical engineering. Pursuing both her Bachelor's and Master's degrees at the University of Tehran—recognized as Iran's premier institution based on global rankings—Mahsa distinguished herself by ranking among the top 10% of students in her graduating classes.

Her three-month internship in the Biotechnology Laboratory within the Chemical Engineering Department at Tehran University was a pivotal experience, guiding her to undertake her bachelor project under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Zeinab Salehi. The project focused on the experimental and computational optimization of operating conditions for enhancing the activity of Lipase, an enzyme extracted from Rhizopus Oryzae, a type of fungi. Continuing her exploration into the field of polymer science and catalysis, Mahsa's master's research, co-supervised by Dr. Samahe Sadjadi (Associate Professor at Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute) and Dr. Salehi, revolved around the synthesis of an innovative hydrogenation catalyst. This catalyst, derived from bio-based materials such as chitosan modified by cyclodextrin, was designed to improve the hydrogenation reactions of nitroarenes in aqueous media under mild conditions.

Further expanding her expertise, Mahsa is pursuing a second Master's in Polymer Reaction Engineering under the guidance of Robin Hutchinson. Her project entails the modeling and optimization of radical homopolymerization and co(ter)polymerization of butyl acrylate systems for automotive applications. The focus is on enhancing the terminal double bond content through parameter estimation techniques in Predici software. She is now dedicated to adjusting kinetic parameters in the model to develop a novel approach for another bio-based acrylate system, isobornyl acrylate.

Melissa Bonillã MASc (Sept 2022 - Current)

Development of an Efficient Cu-Mediated Process for Acrylic Block Copolymers

Hey everyone! I'm a grad student (MASc) from Costa Rica, passionate about dancing, meeting new people, traveling, and, of course, polymers! My fascination with polymers started back in my undergrad days in Chemical Engineering at Universidad de Costa Rica. After graduation, I dived into the industrial world, working as an engineer at companies like Grupo Sur and Smith & Nephew, and also getting involved in research at places like The National Laboratory of Materials and Structural Models (LanammeUCR). Everywhere I went, it seemed like I was surrounded by polymers, showcasing their incredible versatility.

That's why I took the opportunity to join the Hutchinson group to continue exploring this fascinating field. Under Robin’s guidance, I've grown both as an engineer and a scientist. My main interest lies in polymer science and its practical applications in industry, which is evident in my current project, "Sustainable and Scalable Routes to Block Copolymers via Cu-mediated Reversible-Deactivation Radical Solution Polymerization." My time in the group has been incredibly rewarding, despite the challenges. If you ever want to know more about my experience at Queen’s University, feel free to reach out!